The content of the “Heights” this week has a different flavor. Please forgive me as I divert from the usual format.

There will be some changes to the Parish Pastoral Staff beginning July 1. With the expanding needs of the parish and the feedback from the Strategic Planning process, the part-time position of Director of Youth Ministry will become a full-time position. The part-time positions of Music Director and Choir Director will become one full-time position of Director of Music Ministries in the parish. The positions are expanding in hours as well as responsibilities. The decisions to expand the ministries have come from many of you in your feedback to the questions that were posed to the parish by the Strategic Planning Team. For a variety of reasons, Cindy and Nick elected not to accept the newly developed job descriptions.

Having said this, I realize that because we are people and we are relational, and people have come to love Cindy and Nick and Maria, the news that they are moving on will sting. Change is difficult. My desire is not to cause Cindy or Nick or Maria or anyone pain. The decisions I have made have been made with a lot of prayer and reflection. I am responsible as the “shepherd” of the parish for these decisions.

I thank Mrs. Cindy Souza, the part-time Director of Youth Ministry, and Mr. Nick Micchelli, the part-time Music Director, and Mrs. Maria Magliaro Politano for their service to the parish. The Youth Ministry Action Team of the Strategic Planning process will soon be interviewing applicants for the Director of Youth Ministry position. In turn, the Music/Liturgy Action Team will soon begin the same process.

Again, thanks to Cindy and Nick and Maria. Let us pray for them in their future endeavors. Let us pray for the parish as we search for full time Directors of Youth Ministry and Music Ministries. Thanks also to all of you for your comments on where you want the parish to be in three to five years.

Fr. Andy Prachar